After spending 99 years at their former Ninian Park ground, the Club in 2009, moved only a quarter of a mile away to the new stadium. Although with far superior facilities than Ninian Park, the design of the stadium itself was rather uninspiring (as admittedly most new stadiums built in this country are). However in 2014, the Club after being awarded the hosting of the UEFA Super Cup Final, set upon increasing the capacity by 5,000 seats chiefly by expanding the Ninian Park Stand on one side. This stand was originally single tiered, but has since had a small second tier and then an overhanging third tier added, making it the tallest and largest stand at the stadium. However, it's most striking feature is its roof, which is simply huge, elevating and extending quite a distance forward to provide cover to those below. A little reminiscent of the East Stand at Elland Road, the Ninian Stand is far more attractive having more of a distinctive look with clear windshields to either side.

Located opposite is the Grandstand. Named after the corresponding stand at the old Ninian Park, this stand is two tiered, with a small second tier of seating that overlaps the back of the lower tier. In this area at the rear of the lower section there is a row of executive boxes. Whilst at the back of the second tier there is visible a glassed frontage to and area used for corporate entertainment. The team dug outs are located at the front of this stand. Both ends are virtually identical, being single tiered, all seater affairs. The roofs above these stands are situated quite high above the seating areas, with a large back wall, part of which contains Perspex panels to provide more light to the playing surface. The stadium is completely enclosed with all four corners having spectator seating. Above each end there is digital video screen. In view of its multi purpose nature the stadium has in each corner a large access tunnel.

Outside the stadium there are the entrance gates that once welcomed visiting players and officials to Ninian Park. Beside the gates is a plaque in remembrance of Scotland and Celtic Manager Jock Stein who passed away at Ninian Park shortly after a Wales v Scotland World Cup Qualifying game in 1985.

For the stadium buffs, then as you come off the A4232 and head towards the stadium then on your left you will pass the new Cardiff International Sports Stadium. This has a capacity of 5,000, with one covered seated stand that holds 2,613 spectators. Although chiefly the home of Welsh Athletics, the stadium is also used for football with Welsh League Two side Cardiff Bay Harlequins playing their home games there.

Away fans are located in one corner of the stadium, between the Ninian & Grange stands. Up to 1,800 fans can be accommodated in this area. The Club operate automatic turnstiles, where you have to put your ticket (which has a bar code on it) into a slot reader, which then allows the turnstiles to admit you. As you would expect from a new stadium the view of the playing action and facilities are good. The acoustics are also good, with the stadium having a loud p.a. system. The concourses are spacious, have televisions to keep you entertained and serve the usual fayre of food as well as alcohol. Food on offer includes various Clarks Pies (including the Chicken Balti pie £3.70), Beef and Vegetable Pasties (£3.70) and Hot Dogs (£4).

Domenic Brunetti a visiting Nottingham Forest fan adds; I was impressed tho as the entrance to the away end as you are kept well out of harms way as home supporters are kept well separated. Inside the facilities were really good and clean. The concourse was of a good size and the food and drink kiosks plentiful, with little queuing time. I noticed that all the signs inside were written in both English and Welsh. Our seats in one corner of the stadium gave us great views of the game and the giant big screen behind us meant we could see replays of the goals (although unfortunately we lost 3-0!).

The move to the new stadium, marks a new era for Cardiff City and there was no doubt on my visit to the ground, that things seem more relaxed than before at Ninian Park. Even so I would still advise to be cautious around the stadium and the city centre and to keep colours covered.

Inside the stadium away fans are kept separate from home fans, by an area of 'no mans land' to each side. Whilst outside there is a fenced in compound, which is also used to accommodate the away coaches, but again keeps fans separated after the game has finished which should avoid most problems.

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There are no bars in the close vicinity to the stadium that I could see. As the stadium is close the old Ninian Park supporters will tend to use the pubs they did previously, most of which can be quite intimidating for away supporters and are not recommended.

One suggestion that I have received is the Gol Centre on Lawrenny Avenue (off Leckwith Road, See Google Map below) which has amongst other facilities a bar. Gwilym Boore informs me; 'We are a 5-a-side centre located about an eight minute walk from Cardiff City Stadium. We charge £5 to park at the centre but this is returned to customers in the form of a bar voucher which can be used against purchases of Hot Dogs, alcoholic and soft drinks, tea and coffee and confectionery. We also encourage FREE use of our pitches by visiting children'. Plus further along Lawrenny Avenue is the Canton Rugby Football Club, which has a bar, large screen television showing Sky Sports and also offers free parking.

Otherwise it is probably best to drink in the city centre and then go on up to the stadium. Alcohol is also available inside the ground in the form of Fosters, Strongbow and the local Brains Bitter, all at £3.90 per pint. There are also small bottles of red and white wine available at £4.

To avoid driving through the centre of Cardiff, leave the M4 at junction 33 and take the A4232 towards Cardiff/Barry. Keep on the A4232 towards Cardiff and then leave the dual carriageway at the B4267 exit. At the end of the slip road, turn left at the roundabout, signposted 'Cardiff International Athletics Stadium'. The stadium is situated a short distance down this road on the right. Please note that parking in the nearby retail park is limited to 90 minutes as is being enforced. Also be sure also to park your car properly, as I have been informed that traffic wardens are out in force on matchdays.

A visiting Scunthorpe fans adds; 'If you pass the ground on your right and then turn right at the next lights (about 250m) and proceed up this road for about 300m, you will see HSS Hire (plant hire) on your right. Turn right in front of this and it leads you into a fenced off area adjacent to Turnstile 7 (the away entrance). You can go straight into the ground without leaving this area. It was also well marshalled on our visit. It is not big enough for teams with big support, but I think it would take around 200 cars. Cost was £8.' Pre-booked coaches get preference for this area, so if your team are bringing a number, then the space for cars may be limited.'

Margaret Nicholls a visiting Norwich City fan informs me; 'I would recommend the Gol centre near to ground as a place to park and as a pre-match venue to visit. We arrived arrived early before the children's football at the centre had finished but parking there wasn't a problem at all. It was great to find somewhere warm and dry with clean toilets after a long drive. The bar menu isn't huge (pizza or hot dog) but for lunch it was fine. Very friendly staff and the Cardiff fans using it were okay too. The only downside is that after the game it took a long time to get back onto the main road as the centre is located at the bottom of a cul-de-sac'. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near the Cardiff City Stadium via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

How to get there by coach:

To avoid driving through the centre of Cardiff, leave the M4 at junction 33 and take the A4232 towards Cardiff/Barry/Airport. Keep on the A4232 towards Cardiff and then leave the dual carriageway at the 3rd exit B4267. The 1st exit is the Welsh Museum of Life....2nd exit is Culverhouse Cross. Just before the 3rd turn off you will see the stadium (slightly to your left). Taking the outside lane (of 2) on the slip road, as you approach the lights, you need to be in lane 3 (of 4). You will be bearing round to the right (keeping the pavement on your left) you are taking the 1st turning off this roundabout into Hadfield Road. Travelling approximately 800 meters down Hadfield Road you will then turn left into Bessemer Road. Travelling down Bessemer Road to the traffic lights at its "T" junction with Sloper Rd you turn left. Approximately 400 meters down Sloper road as you pass the bus depot on your right on your left you will see "HSS Plant Hire". Turn Left Here into the protected compound. Thanks to Malcolm a Cardiff Cabbie for these directions.

Zeelo are running direct coach services for home fans travelling to Cardiff City Stadium. With the long and crowded train or tiring drive, Zeelo offer a hassle free service straight to the stadium. Travel in a comfortable coach, with a guaranteed seat and soak in the atmosphere with other fans. This family friendly service has special rates for seniors and children with prices starting from as little as £6.50 return. Check the Zeelo website for more details.

The nearest railway station is Ninian Park Halt, which is only a five minute walk from the stadium. This station is on a local line (City Line-direction Radyr) which is served by trains from Cardiff Central, which run every 30 minutes on Saturday afternoons (although occasionally extra services are put on). On leaving Ninian Park Halt Station proceed left along Leckwith Road and you will see the stadium over on your left.

Alternatively as Barry Hodges informs me; 'The next nearest station is Grangetown which is around a 15-20 minute walk away from the New Stadium and is served by trains from Cardiff Central, that continue onto Penarth or Barry Island. On leaving Grangetown station turn left, cross the main road and then turn right into Sloper road'. If you are an away fan then turn left into the protected compound at HSS Plant Hire, which leads to the away turnstiles. If for any other turnstile than gate 7, walk on 50 metres, turning left, into the car park towards gate 6 or around the stadium, to the right for lower gate numbers, ticket office or club shop.

If you a bit more time on your hands, then you can walk to the stadium from Cardiff Central, which takes around 25 minutes. As you come out of the entrance to the station, bear left and at the bottom of the station approach road, turn left. Continue straight on into Ninian Park Road, for around a mile passing the Millennium Stadium on your right. At the end of Ninian Park Road turn left and then left into Leckwith Road. You will then shortly be able to see the stadium over on your left (the away turnstiles are on the left hand side of the stadium, as you view it from here). Alternatively a taxi to the stadium from Cardiff Central costs around £7. Alternatively you can catch bus number 95 (going towards Barry) from the adjacent bus station next to Cardiff Central, up to the stadium. You can view a timetable on the Cardiff Bus website.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:

Like a number of Clubs, Cardiff City operates a Category system (Gold, Silver & Bronze) whereby the most popular games cost more to watch. Gold prices are shown below with Silver and Bronze in brackets:

* Please note that these ticket prices are for tickets purchased in advance of matchday. Tickets bought on the day of the game can cost up to £3 more per adult ticket and £2 more per concession ticket.

A popular destination with visiting supporters prior to the game is a visit to the Millennium Stadium (or Stadiwm y Mileniwm in Welsh). Although no longer hosting the domestic football cup finals, it is still one of the best stadiums in Britain. The stadium offers regular tours on most days throughout the year and is only a couple of minutes walk from Cardiff Central railway station. The tour itself costs:

I have been on the tour myself and would definitely recommend it. It lasts around 45 minutes and is one of the better tours that I have been on, full of interesting facts, coupled with a sense of humour. You can book the tours by calling: 02920 822 228 or book online via the Millennium Stadium website.

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Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Cardiff City Stadium?

This would be the first time I have visited the new Cardiff City Stadium and having read previous reviews about their ground I was looking forward to going. Also, with Cardiff having a new manager in Neil Warnock this added to my interest in going to the game as Neil had a spell at Barnsley as a player back in 1976 to 1978 when he was aged 28/30 yrs. He obviously is better known now as a Manager and has been with numerous clubs over a 30 year period.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I knew the journey would be a long one. Some 420 mile round trip from Barnsley, so I decided to travel their by car on Saturday morning and then after the game I would go to a Travelodge, located about half way home and staying overnight so I decided to stay at the Frankley Travelodge just outside Birmingham, which would take me about 2 hrs from Cardiff. I set off at 8am on Sat morning and finally arrived in Cardiff about 1.30pm after stopping for breakfast and then lunch at the Motorway services. I managed to park my car on a side street about a five minute walk from the away end of the Stadium.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

There were no pubs within walking distance of the ground so I decided to go straight into the Stadium. I was met by some Barnsley fans who were handing out a letter intended for the 480 or so away fans from our manager Paul Heckingbottom explaining that because of all the good support that the fans have given the club so far this season he has arranged for us all to get a free drink inside the ground, which could be an alcoholic drink, soft drink, or tea/coffee. This, I thought, was a very good gesture and greatly appreciated.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Cardiff City Stadium?

I was very impressed with Cardiff's new Stadium even though it looked probably too big for todays attendance of about 14,700. The concourse and facilities around the ground were very impressive.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

On approaching the ground our fans were met by the Stewards who conducted the usual bag search that we are all used to by now, and who appeared to be pleasant and friendly. The game itself proved to be very entertaining with a total of seven goals scored with Barnsley eventually coming out on top with a 4-3 victory. Having gone 1-0 down in the first minute of the game Barnsley came back at the hosts with three goals in the first half. The second half, however, was completely different. Cardiff pulled two goals back, and in a nail biting last minute of added time Barnsley, against the run of play, scored the winner from their one only effort on goal in the second half. It was really a crazy game of football throughout and there probably won't be another game like it all season.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting away from the ground was quite easy, and I didn't have any major problems. The general flow of traffic back to the M4 Motorway was okay.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

I was obviously delighted with the outcome of the game, and another away victory, especially with it being a long journey. I eventually arrived at the Frankley Travelodge at about 8pm and in good spirits. After a good nights sleep I continued my journey home the following morning. I would definitely recommend a trip to Cardiff and I would have no hesitation in coming back should both our teams meet again.

Cardiff City v Leeds United
Football Championship League
Saturday 17th September 2016, 12.30pm
Josh Townend (Leeds United fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Cardiff City Stadium?

I study at Cardiff Met University so I'd been living in the city for a while. As a result, this was one of very few local away games I could get to (or just from, but I'll explain that later). It was also at the start of Freshers Week, so it would've been lovely to properly celebrate having bragging rights in my newly(ish) adopted home city. I'd been the previous season when we came away 2-0 winners.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I had been spending the summer with my girlfriend and her family in Bude, Cornwall. It was also a midday fixture, so I was up at 5am to catch the 2-hour bus to Exeter at half 6. I then got the train from Exeter St David's to Cardiff Central and then to Ninian Park. Apart from being what I usually consider an overlong journey, I had no real problems getting there. The Cardiff City Stadium is just down the road from Ninian Park station so I had no worries finding it, particularly having been before.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

I didn't get there until half an hour before kick off, so I just had a quick 'pie and a pint' before entering the ground. The home fans, as with the previous visit were pretty friendly.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Cardiff City Stadium?

I was in near the front, which was great for being close to the action, but being short-sighted, I'd have probably benefited from a loftier position. I'll never understand why the entrance is so big, it almost splits the away end into two separate sections. The newly expanded stand on our right loomed over the ground, now as a remnant of Vincent Tan's more disruptive days with the upper tier being closed and full of red seats.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.

It was a tense game in the first half, and I thought the referee had been generous to the hosts on numerous occasions. The game opened up and seemingly the first decision to go our way was a penalty which Chris Wood duly converted. Hernandez sealed the win with a goal that was eventually nominated as a candidate for fans' goal of the season (beaten by Doukara's Yeboah-esque volley against Forest). There was a buoyant atmosphere in the away end, and while the home fans did pipe up a few times in the first half, I heard little from them in the second half. I had a pie but there was no more plastic cutlery to eat it with. With one bite, the pastry crumbled, so I had to pick out what was left of the pastry and suck the filling out of the pie case. Other than the structural issues, the pie was enjoyable.The concourse was spacious, no issues with toilets or stewards.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Getting back was a nightmare. I missed my train out of Cardiff. Fortunately, I had been to get the keys to my new flat so I decided to crash there. By this point, my Dad was down at my girlfriend's as he was helping us move the following day, so the idea with the change of plan was that I'd meet them at the flat. It turned out all of our utilities were inactive, but by this point there was no way I could get back to Bude. Fortunately, my old flatmates had invited me out that night, so I hit the town for a spontaneous night out and crashed on their couch before still-half-drunkenly making my way to the flat in the morning. (I realise, that's not overly relevant, but it's a great post-football story).

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Great to get the three points, even if the Cardiff City Stadium itself is a little generic or not particularly special. As I live here, I'll always look out for this fixture.

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Cardiff City Stadium?

This was another long weekend for myself and my wife, we stayed in Newport about 10 miles away from Cardiff. A Rangers away match with some leisure time away from the everyday stress of London, it's the reason we look forward to our away days, wherever Rangers play throughout the season.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Good journey from West London, it took us less than three hours. The stadium is very easy to find, just a lack of away supporters sign directions! Leave the M4 at junction 33, take the A4232. You'll see a sign on your left for "Away Supporters" take this slip road and go left, pass McDonalds and 'The Sand Martin Pub' then pass a large park on your right, turn right at the lights into Sloper Road. After approx 800 yards you'll see a turning on your right "Clos Parc", this is the entrance into the safe car-park.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

This was my second visit to the new stadium, last time I visited Cardiff was with the QPR LSA on their coaches, that was the season QPR won the Championship in 2011, and, it was also Saint George's Day which added that extra bit of spice to the fixture. Our coaches only just made it in time for the kick-off, so I didn't have time to look around the vicinity of the stadium on that occasion, plus, having had one or three light ales on the way the geographical lay out of the area wasn't high on my agenda, so I guess 5 years later on this really could be classed as my first visit to the new stadium.

Having parked in the away supporters enclosure this time, we took a walk around the stadium. It's a completely opposite different experience compared to that of the old intimidation at Ninian Park. Didn't really mix or talk to any Cardiff supporters, have to say it was a very relaxed atmosphere outside the ground pre-match, but as I said above, very difficult to get any refreshments in the large retail park adjacent to the stadium. This may have been due to the extra 9,000 Cardiff fans that got their tickets for the QPR fixture for £2 with an additional free beer voucher, which boosted their gate to just under 28,000... Goes to show that supporters will go to football and pack the grounds out if the price is right.... fair play to Cardiff City FC.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Cardiff City Stadium?

The new stadium is fine, much the same as many of the new stadiums. It doesn't have the intimidation factor of Ninian Park either inside or out, but it's a spacious clean stadium with a decent view of the field of play even though away fans are in one corner area of the stadium.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Seeing as Cardiff still had a decent chance of making this seasons play-offs, I was surprised at the lack of vocal support from the home fans. We only had around 800 supporters, but still completely out sang the home support throughout the whole game. The game itself lacked any real 'get out of your seat moments' from both sides. From the QPR prospective it was very much an experimental team that Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink picked, as Rangers had hit the safety margin of 50 points a few weeks earlier... ended up 0-0, which just about reflected the whole match. The police and stewards couldn't have have been more helpful and friendly, top marks to all of them. I'd say if you get to the ground any later than 1pm, your best bet is going straight into the away section for food and drink. Refreshments are much the same as all grounds, and they do serve beer and larger on the concourse, plus, if there is an early kick-off else where in the league, you'll have the added bonus of watching that match on the TV screens situated around the spacious concourse, so yes the facilities are decent.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

If your planning on doing a bank robbery after the game, my advise is give that idea a huge miss! First of all, I couldn't see a bank to rob. Secondly, the chances of making a quick getaway, should you manage to find that all elusive bank, are just impossible! This was, without a shadow of doubt, the worst traffic I've ever come across in all of my 47 years of following QPR away from home. Through our own choice, we left the car-park area at 5.15pm. At 6.10pm, having turned around due to the non-movement of vehicles, we got to the front of the stadium.... maybe the elongated delay was down to the extra Cardiff support, that mixed with the shoppers from the retail park, whatever it was, it was just horrendous. My advise when leaving the safe car-park, is to sneak in between the away coaches, cos they are directed out a different way.... It's got to be worth a try other than sitting in still traffic for near on an hour. Once you eventually reach the A4232 by the ASDA store roundabout there's no problem heading back up to the junction 33 of the M4.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Good day out, all bar the awful post-match traffic! I was very happy Rangers got a well deserved point.... Yes I will definitely go to the corresponding fixture next season, can't see Cardiff making a play-off push now...... although maybe I'll go by helicopter, just for the after match getaway reasons.

Cardiff City v Derby County
Football Championship League
Saturday 2nd April 2016, 3pm
Dave (Derby County fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Cardiff City Stadium?

I had once been to the old Ninian Park in 1984, so I was wanting to cross this new stadium off the list. Plus with Derby having a good season and sitting in the play off positions and Cardiff in contention too, it was going to be another important game.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We had no problems at all on the way down. The roads were good, then just a little busy once entering Cardiff, but seeing as they were expecting a bumper crowd, it was to be expected .

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We went to the Gol club as recommended in this guide, just for an update its now £5 to park but you get it back as a voucher , we arrived around 1-30 but the car park is not a big one so any later and we would have been struggling.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Cardiff City Stadium?

It looks nice from outside and inside it was very similar on the whole to most new builds, being a fairly dull concrete bowl.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

The game was a dour affair between two sides that looked like they couldn't be bothered , more like a friendly. The game was helped by the poor pitch, which was dreadful and was cutting up . Players from both sides were continually slipping over. Cardiff shaded the game 2-1, but in all honesty a decent side would have beaten both sides....at the same time!

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Due to the record attendance of 28,680, of which Derby took a creditable 1,604 it was busy so we stayed at the Gol club till 6pm We were then back in Derby for 8.25pm and I was home at Mansfield for 9pm.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Despite a poor performance from Derby it was a good day out and another ground added to the list that I have visited. What else are Saturdays for?

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Cardiff City Stadium?

I'd never been to Cardiff before, so my wife and I were looking forward to a winter break weekend in Cardiff centred around the MK Dons visit.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We stayed in a city centre hotel and travel to and from the ground was easy. As the weather was awful (very wet and very windy), we chose to travel out to the game by train from Cardiff Central to Ninian Park station so as to keep dry and not have to sit through the game in wet gear. Train runs every 30 minutes, from Ninian Park station it is a five minute walk, turn left out of the station, turn left again down Sloper Road and the away entrance is by the HSS shop.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Cardiff City Stadium?

I liked the look of the stadium, modern and efficiently laid out. We got a shock on arrival to be told "hang on to your tickets, there might be a postponement, the ref has just inspected and if there is one more heavy shower the game is off!" Anyway we went in, plenty of space in the away end and easy to get a drink. Spacious and clean toilet areas meant there were never any queues there. Although our tickets were seat-numbered we were told "sit anywhere in this stand". Away fans are in a corner, we were right above the corner flag and had an excellent view. Ground staff were working hard with a "super-sopper" machine trying to blot up water which was then squirted in large volumes past the touchlines.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Felt very fortunate that in the end the game went ahead and though at times the rain became monsoon-like the officials and players just got on with it. There were areas of the pitch where you could see water splashing up as players put their feet down. Not an afternoon for skilful play and the game itself was a bit drab, finishing 0-0. At least we got a vital away point. One thing I would like to mention is that all the staff we met were very friendly and helpful - stewards, catering, security - everyone gives out a warm welcome and we came away with a very positive feeling about our match day at Cardiff in spite of the weather.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Amazingly the rain slackened off just before the final whistle so we decided to walk back into town instead of queuing for a train. It takes about 20 minutes - from the away end turn right into Sloper Road and follow everyone else left into Virgil St, under a rail bridge, continue onto Cornwall St and Clare Rd, under another rail bridge and turn right into Ninian Park Rd/Tudor St and cross the River Taff to arrive at Cardiff Central again. An easy walk only slightly spoiled by a group of boys barely in their teens but whose idea of conversation was to shout obscenities to each other all the way!

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

We really enjoyed ourselves, well done to all at the Cardiff Club. And we even had the warm glow of a desperately-needed point as we hover just above the Championship relegation zone.

This was to be my second long journey to see a Rovers away game. Although Blackburn had hit a bit of a rough patch, we were hoping that this match would see us get some form back.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

I went by coach, although not on one of the official ones. The journey was fine and we easily parked in the compound behind the away section.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

We didn't arrive till late so we just went straight into the stadium. But I noticed as we drove past that there were a number of fast food restaurants (KFC, McDonald's) and shops such as Tesco located nearby.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Cardiff City Stadium?

The stadium was amazing and you can tell that the design was well thought out. It is a modern bowl shaped stadium although the "Grandstand", to the right of the away fan section, was three tiered (although only the bottom tier was open). The away section was great and we were informed when we went in that it was "unreserved seating".

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

We didn't create many clear chances and ended up losing 1-0, after they took the lead just before the hour mark. The atmosphere was poor to begin with and when they scored they sang a little bit. The stewards were great and a few fans were talking to them about the game, Nothing was a problem for them. We took 500 so only one refreshment area was open meaning it was packed so I avoided buying something.

NOTE: You couldn't take plastic bottles into the stadium so you had to empty them into plastic cups.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

The coaches were Police escorted away from the stadium, which meant that we quickly got back onto the motorway. We arrived home at around 10.30pm although we did have a couple of stops on the way back.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall I enjoyed my visit to the Cardiff City Stadium, although it would be better if it had been a good result!

For my wife and me, this would be our first visit to the new Cardiff stadium.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We were making a weekend of it and had chosen to stay both Friday and Saturday nights in Penarth. Penarth is a pleasant coastal town and trains make the ten minute journey into Cardiff every 15 minutes. You can then alight at Grangetown station which is an easy 15 minute walk away from the stadium.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

There were no obvious watering-holes between Grangetown Station and the Stadium so we walked directly to the ground, arriving about 1.45pm. Everyone seemed pretty friendly!

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Cardiff City Stadium?

The Cardiff City Stadium is in a mixed residential/light industrial area. From the outside, it looks quite imposing in a modern sort of way. Approaching along Sloper Road from Grangetown station you come immediately to the away fans entrance. We walked a little way around the ground, but you can't completely circumnavigate it, plus with a strong cold wind whistling around the corner, it seemed sensible to go inside. The stewards were friendly. The away fans are located in the south-east curved corner of the ground - the concourse underneath was spacious with access to two bars and a betting outlet. There are TV screens dotted around and very good toilets! Inside, the stadium looks quite big and doesn't have the uniform appearance of many of these modern 'flat-pack' style grounds. There was a 'sit-where-you-want' policy and the view was pretty good although being in the corner of the stadium did produce a feeling of detachment from the game and the rest of the ground, enhanced by the 'demilitarised zone' of empty seats between the away fans and the home areas on each side. Also, the weather wasn't too good and the away fans corner seemed to be the wettest and windiest - we were in Row Z, but still got a bit wet and felt the full force of the wind! Stewarding was fairly light-touch and those who wanted, could congregate at the rear and could stand the whole time.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

There had been some publicity about the falling attendances at Cardiff games and there certainly were a lot of empty seats for this game. Reading brought a reasonable contingent but the ground was still only just under half full. A dearth of goals in previous games appeared to have left Cardiff fans a bit disgruntled, but they soon cheered up after uncharacteristic slack Reading defending gifted Cardiff two headed goals from set pieces.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Afterwards, it was an easy walk back to Grangetown station and the train back to Penarth.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Although the result was a massive disappointment, we enjoyed the trip but I did come away feeling that I hadn't engaged with the game as much as at other grounds. I think this may be down to being located in the corner of the stadium.

Why you were looking forward to going to the Cardiff City Stadium?
Simply this was a new ground for me to visit.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We parked up at Cardiff Blues rugby stadium in view of the Millennium Stadium where I'd been in 2004, at a charge of £6 per day. It is good because it's very easy to reach the City Centre from the ground, would recommend.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We first went to MacDonalds to get some food and then we headed down in the direction of the ground stopping off at a Wetherspoons pub converted from a theatre called the Prince of Wales. The pub did have home fans in, and eventhough I had my Bolton shirt on, not once did I feel threatened. The pub served a variety of ales, and it's a very nice place to have a drink. We then walked to the train station just around the corner and caught a taxi down to the stadium.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
I thought the Cardiff City Stadium looked good. First off it looked like a Premier a league stadium. The concourse inside the away end was big as well, which is ideal with big away followings but for us, it was fine as we didn't take many fans. The stewards in the ground are friendly and allowed me to put my flag up in the empty section next to where the Bolton were sitting in, which was good.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was one of the best Bolton performances I had ever been to away from home. We won the game 3-0. I was absolutely delighted with the result and the weather made it better because it was bright sunshine. What a superb today all round it turned out to be.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We walked back into the City centre and We eventually got way fine after getting stuck in traffic whilst still in the City.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I would describe it both as fantastic result and a great day out. Probably the best away game I've ever been to!

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

Visiting Cardiff brings back great memories of a real high point of supporting Wolves, the 2003 Play-Off Final at the Millennium Stadium. That particular afternoon now has added poignancy due to the recent passing of Sir Jack Hayward. His beaming smile and thumbs up gesture on that wonderful afternoon have featured heavily as the club and city remember a great man.

We were heading into the game on the back of two home wins, in which we’d scored 8 goals without reply. Our play-off hopes, which a month ago could be described as flickering, threatened to dazzle if we could continue our good form, against a tough Cardiff side. Since moving to their shiny new home at the imaginatively named Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff and Wolves’ paths have rarely crossed, a 3-1 defeat under Stale Solbakken (remember him? Nor me…) being our only previous visit. I missed that game as I was on holiday, so this would be my first trip there.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We decided to use the club’s official coaches, as they worked out cheaper than the train. We left Molineux at 10:30am, and had a pleasant journey through the Malvern Hills and then Monmouthshire, into South Wales. We arrived in Cardiff at around 1pm, but then had to wait for 30 minutes for a Police escort for the remaining 10 minutes of the journey. The ground is quite well located in the city, and you can probably walk from the main centre to the stadium in the time you can say Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch...

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

Because we didn’t arrive at the ground until about 1:45, we decided to go straight in. Having mooched around for 5 minutes looking for a programme seller, to no avail, we headed inside. After entering through two sets of security, you get into a pretty impressive concourse. I immediately found my programme seller, in a rather snazzy booth, selling all sorts of tat, sorry, I meant “official club merchandise” you’d normally find in the club shop. There was a big screen showing the lunchtime kick off on Sky, as well as food and betting kiosks.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

Like most new stadiums, the Cardiff City Stadium lacks a little bit of character. It’s very imposing, but feels very ‘clean’, in the sense that it fits in perfectly with the nearby retail park. We’re slightly spoilt at Molineux, there’s no structure like it in the city, and you can say the same about quite a few grounds. Many modern grounds though seem rather dull, to be honest. Once you’re inside though, it’s very impressive.

Away fans are housed in a corner, rather than given an ‘end’ or a ‘flank’, as at most grounds. The only time previously this season I can remember being in a corner was at Derby. We lost that game 5-0, but the atmosphere in our corner was great. The stand to the right of the away fans is the biggest, with a huge roof and three tiers. The upper one is a recent addition, and the seats a bright red, a reminder of the presence of Vincent Tan, Cardiff’s chairman, who would make a perfect Bond villain. Cardiff have recently returned to wearing blue shirts, having changed to red a couple of years ago, much to the chagrin of their fans. Tan suggested Red was more marketable, and luckier, and maybe he was right, as Cardiff were promoted to the Premier League in the first season of wearing red.

The ground is very spacious, yet you still feel reasonably close to the action, and despite being in the corner, you get excellent views. There are also giant screens at either end of the ground, but they didn’t show any highlights, and acted more as a scoreboard.

It was a pretty even start, with set pieces providing both teams with the early chances to score. The game’s decisive moment however, came on 26 minutes. Benik Afobe, a January signing from Arsenal, powered past two challenges, before laying the ball off to Rajiv Van La Parra. His cutback hit the heel of centre half Bruno Ecuele Manga, but the ricochet fell kindly to inform winger Bakary Sako, who finished clinically for his 4th goal in 3 games. Cardiff responded well, and Danny Batth had to head clear from Kenwyne Jones’ goalbound header, whilst keeper Tomasz Kuszczak did well to smother a loose ball with Jones closing in. At the other end, we had one further chance when Afobe and Van La Parra linked up well, but the latter managed to spoon his effort over the bar.

The second half was a very strange event. We were the better side for the first 15-20 minutes, and could have added to our lead, Afobe blasting straight at the legs of David Marshall when clean through. Peter Whittingham was then sent off for Cardiff following a poor challenge. However, far from give us the advantage, Cardiff were galvanised, and dominated the final 25 minutes. Matt Doherty and Richard Stearman both cleared off the line, and Kuszczak made several important catches as Cardiff looked to bombard the penalty area. The final whistle brought both the elation of three more points, but also relief that we’d managed to hold on at the end.

View From The Away Section

The atmosphere was very good I felt. All four sides of the ground were probably 2/3rds full, and the stand at the opposite end to the away fans was very raucuous, as they tried to suck the ball in towards the end. The away end was a near 2,000 sell out, and there was non-stop singing from the travelling army. Most songs were in support of the lads in Old Gold, but of course, the Anglo-Welsh rivalry also cropped up once or twice, notably when we burst into a rendition of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, referencing England’s recent victory over Wales in that strange sport with an odd shaped ball, where enormous grown men hug each other…

The facilities/food/stewards were all very good, as you would expect from a modern ground. The toilets were clean and tidy, and the food was of a good quality. I’m judging this solely on the basis that the burger buns had sesame seeds, that’s usually a good sign, isn’t it?

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

The coaches were parked right outside the away end, and the brilliant Punjabi Wolves were having a great time on the way out, singing and dancing, which made it a very enjoyable walk back to the coaches. After pulling away from the stadium, we were back on the road for 5:20, and back in Wolverhampton just before 8pm.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

A great result, if not a great performance, made for an enjoyable day out. With good views and a very decent atmosphere, the Cardiff City Stadium may, on the outside at least, look like many modern stadiums, but inside, it’s a great place to watch football, especially if your team win!

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I was really looking forward to the game because I haven’t been to Cardiff before and from what I have heard it’s a really good away day. However before this game I hadn’t seen Watford win away from home in over a year, so I wasn’t in high spirits, in terms of getting a positive result.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Me and a few lads got the supporters coach from Watford and it took about 3 and half hours. We stopped at a service station once just before we went into Wales. Overall it was a straightforward journey.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

The supporters coach took us into Cardiff City Centre so that we could have a drink at a pre-arranged pub. I forgot what the pub was called but it was fine, although it was £4.20 for a pint. We still had a bit of time on our hands so we walked down to the Millennium Stadium. We took a few pictures outside the stadium as it brought back good memories of when Watford beat Leeds in the Play Off Final in 2006. It was then back on the coach at up to the Cardiff ground.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The stadium was amazing. It is of a good size and very modern. At most away games I have been to, the away fans are housed in one end behind a goal. Whereas Cardiff have visiting fans sat in one corner. I found this a bit strange to sit by the corner flag, but we had a very good view of the game.

The match itself was very entertaining. Cardiff started very brightly and took an early lead. But by the end of the first half Watford got a grip on the game and managed to score twice, to take a lead into the half time interval. The second half was similar to the first with Cardiff enjoying some pressure, but then Watford taking over the game and scoring a further two goals. The last 15 minutes Cardiff looked lively and pulled one back in the 89th minute but it was too late, with Watford running out 4-2 winners.

This was one of the best away games I have been too in a long time!, I highly recommend going, the stewards are very polite, they showed me to my seat and had very good manners and one of them even started celebrating with the Hornets fans when Watford scored! I didn’t buy anything in the ground but the people around me told me that the pies were good.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

After the game we clapped the players off and went straight back to the waiting coach. We had about a ten minute wait, before we were on our way with a Police escort up to the motorway. This was pretty quick as the Police escort held traffic back so that we could get through. The journey home took a bit longer, at around four hours.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

The day itself was brilliant, easily one of the best away games I have been to in a very long time, would highly recommend going there. I know if both teams stay in the Championship then I’m definitely going next year. The pubs and people were very civilised and friendly.

I'd been to Ninian Park previously, long time ago and know Cardiff to be a vibrant city with some quality watering holes. Also it's the FA Cup and we are presently, the holders......

2) How easy was my journey, finding the ground?

Got the train down, 3 hrs direct excellent journey with some spectacular views of the floods north of Hereford. Finding the ground, I just followed advice, got the 17/18 bus from opposite the Zerodegrees pub on Westgate to Canton Police Station, £1. 10 minute walk to the ground, you can see it from there, also couple of good pubs in Canton, a Wetherspoons and Chapter Arts Centre

3) Before the game?

I'd had my butties on the train which arrived in Cardiff at 1 pm so headed for a pint on Westgate The Queens Vaults. Belting boozer, was showing the lunchtime game live and enjoyed a good pint of Felinfoel. Moved on to Zerodegrees which I'd heard about and was curious. Amazing place, it's a brewery about 50 yds up from Queens which brews and serves it's own beers there and then. The pale ale was lovely and the Mango beer quite enjoyable too. Also has TVs and shows some sport. The locals were very friendly and I followed their instructions on how to get to the ground, the bus from dead opposite Zerodegrees.

4) Impressions of the ground etc..

I walked up to it and it is quite imposing on the skyline. Away supporters basically have their own section of the stadium as opposed to just a seating section. Entered the enclosure outside the ground which was policed and very sensible. Very self contained and sensible. Smart modern stadium, but getting fed up of having to sit by the corner flag. Great away support and stewards all very friendly and helpful in my experience although I gather some away fans felt the stewards were a bit heavy handed in ejecting one fan? At half time the stewards opened up the gates for fans to stretch their legs, attend more refreshment stations and have a smoke if they so wished, very civilised.

5) Comment on the game itself?

I felt for the Cardiff fans, their club I think is losing its way under its present stewardship and Solskjaer is very brave in taking the managers position. Support was fragmented, a little lacking and Wigan played brilliantly to win 2-1. The home fans looked unhappy and their team lacked some quality. Had a cuppa at half time and big queues on the concourse but got served straight away in the burger bar outside the gates.

6) Getting away after?

Walked into town, following the crowd, no problem, again very civilised. Headed to Westgate near the station and a Wetherspoons pub the Gatekeeper. Very busy and good pub, full of middle aged "rugger buggers"who were a bit up themselves....... Packed at 5-15pm. Moved on after one pint to the City Arms intending to head back to Zerodegrees to sale more of their beers. The City Arms was belting, ended up staying their til my train home. Excellent beers, somewhere to sit and watch the football on tv all of a sudden it emptied; the rugby across the road was a 6-30pm kick off, so became more comfortable. Beer was spot on, cask on the bar and barrels tapped behind the bar, landlord very friendly, left the footie on the tv for me despite the rugby game being live on another channel. Locals were brilliant, one apologised for not having a spare ticket for me to attend the rugby match and others wished us all the best for the rest of the season

7) Summary of the visit?

Great day out, let the train take the strain and sampled some great beers and pubs and a fantastic Wigan victory. Highly recommend a visit, couldn't have been more civilised and friendlier. Will go again next year if we get promoted and they stay up which looks doubtful? Really enjoyable day. 10/10!

I had been to the old Ninian Park on several occasions and now of them were particularly pleasant trips, so it was good to read on here of much changed circumstances for the new stadium.

I had a spurs supporting friend coming over from the states for this game so it had been eagerly awaited for some time.

We took the train to Cardiff and arrived about 11:30, a fellow spurs fan who lives in Cardiff had arranged for a meet at a Wetherspoons pub on the other side of town to the ground so we set of on the 20 minute walk. It was a typical Spoons pub, very bland but spacious and cheap. We left the pub at around 3:15 and grabbed some taxis to the ground. They could only get so close but it was only a 5 minute walk from where he dropped us.

The facilities inside the ground are superb, metal railings to make the half time scrum for a beer a lot easier and more humane, it was your average food and beer prices but they were pre pouring so the queues went very quick (I really do wish all clubs would do this, its so obvious)

The stewards are very friendly and the ground is open so you can get outside for a fag at halftime, there is also a burger van that you can use as the away turnstiles are inside a fenced compound, I think the concourse would have been heaving if this was not the case but the police and stewards seem very relaxed and it made for a really good atmosphere.

The game itself was okay, Spurs dominated but couldn’t get the ball in the net, that was until the 93rd minute at which point the away end erupted. A 1-0 away it was and being such a late goal left everybody in high spirits.

The walk back to the train station takes around 30-35 minutes but was very heavily policed and they moved in quickly to disperse a small number of Cardiff idiots, that seems to want to spoil things, the vast majority of Cardiff fans were friendly and wished us well for the season.

All in all a cracking day out, worth the trip, Spurs won and its another one ticked of the 92 as well. What more could you ask for?

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

Initially was in two minds as whether to go, I used to love away days at the old Ninian Park (favourite ground after Ashton Gate) but have never felt that excited at the prospect of attending the new stadium. Pictures of it look very unappealing but this was the first season they had lifted the bubble restrictions (which had been in place for about 10 seasons) so we were always going to sell our allocation and take the right sort of passionate supporter. We sold out our allocation two weeks before and with it costing just over a tenner for a return to Cardiff from Bristol via train meant that most took this option so if nothing else it was going to be a good day out.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Met by police at the station who held the hoards outside until we were all together and then walked us up to join the city fans who were place inside The Great Western pub. We were eventually escorted from here to the ground so no problem in finding the way to the stadium. Walking there we were stopping and starting as some city fans kept trying to break the escort - the police didn't seem that organised and I did think that at some point things could have got out of hand due to numbers but it went off okay.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

By the time we got to the Great Western pub there were so many city fans inside that the doormen they weren't really allowing many more in. Couple hundred stood outside drinking and singing and exchanging banter with the odd Cardiff fan who passed nearby. Eventually a large group tried to enter and it was too much for the doormen who were overwhelmed. Everyone outside (including us) followed and we were soon in the pub. The atmosphere inside was great, with lots of singing, but then a smoke bomb got set off and they stopped serving. Everyone finished their drink and joined the escort outside.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

From the outside the stadium I thought "Legoland", boring, unexciting and typical of many new grounds. The away end was on one corner of the bowl which encompassed the whole stadium. One of the side stands had a small upper tier which was the grounds only redeeming feature. Behind the stands there were high plastic sheets and what seemed like a lot of space between that and the outer part of the stadium - this looked odd and further enhanced the soulless feel.

Lost 2-1 to a better team. We had few chances on goal and we equalised from an embarrassing own goal. Atmosphere was okay from our end, most stood and we brought our surfer flag of Scott Murray's iconic goal celebration against Cardiff in the 2001 play off semi at Ninian. We were loud at the start but quiet for large parts after their second went in. To our right they had what appeared to be a couple of large blocks all standing, were quite quiet until the end and a shadow of their former selves at the old ground. Behind their goal they had many standing again and were heard occasionally; overall very disappointing considering they were top of the league and the ground did not feel intimidating in the slightest.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Again a large escort for those travelling back by train. Some scuffles with the police as sections tried to break through what one unhappy fan described as the Berlin wall. There was the odd scuffle on the way back with a few coins being thrown in our direction from some of the pubs that were passed - A group pf ten or so Cardiff fans ran out at the escort from a side road but were quickly chased off by two police horses.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Summary, poor result and beaten by a better team. Cannot see myself returning (may not be playing them for a while anyway with us likely to get relegated and them almost certainly getting promoted). The Cardiff as I have known them no longer exist. Soulless stadium, more Malaysian flags than Welsh ones inside the ground, playing in red (still can't believe this) - If this is the price I would have to pay for my team to reach the Premier League I would kindly opt out.

Attendance: 25,586 (although with the amount of empty seats it seemed less - 2,088 Bristol City fans)

Cardiff City v Peterborough United
Championship League
Saturday, December 15th 2012, 3pm
James Prentice (Doing the 92)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I am almost 70 grounds through the 92 and, with mainly lengthy trips up ahead of me, I wanted to get a real long-distance trip out of the way. So I booked some reasonably-priced rail tickets to Cardiff. I was interested to see whether Cardiff’s new home was just another bland bowl of a stadium or whether they had managed to fashion their new home into something original and interesting. Cardiff is a city I really like and the trip also offered the chance to go on a tour of the magnificent Millennium Stadium.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

My train got into Cardiff Central at around 11.20am and I went for a look around the city centre before making my way over to the Millennium Stadium. I had been to the stadium for a game some years ago and it was every bit as impressive as I remembered it, although this time I got to do the ‘behind the scenes’ tour. At only £8.50 for a tour that lasts around 70 minutes, I would recommend this to anyone visiting the city with a bit of time on their hands.

After my tour, I walked to the Cardiff City Stadium rather than getting a train to the Ninian Park station as this only took around 20 minutes. The ground is easy to find and I used directions taken from this website.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

After leaving the Millennium Stadium I didn’t quite have time even for a swift pint so I made my way to the ground and decided I would eat after the game. There was a reasonable police presence, although even though I was due to sit with the home fans I did notice a few ‘undesirables’ amongst Cardiff’s support, so away fans travelling by public transport may want to stick together and keep colours/badges covered.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The ground it situated on the edge of a park and looks quite striking at first glance. Fans enter via blocks of automated turnstiles situated around the outside of the ground rather than the occasional turnstiles at older stadia, which led to lengthy queues. There were a couple of nice touches, such as the old gates from Ninian Park and a plaque commemorating the death of Jock Stein, which have been brought from the old ground to preserve some history and lend some originality. The concourses are pretty spacious and the inside of the ground is certainly less bland than some newer homes of football. The stadium is enclosed so the atmosphere is good and the view from my seat behind the goal in the Canton End was excellent.

Away fans are situated at the other end in a corner, although allocations can be increased depending on the number of visitors. One thing I like about the stadium is that the stands have retained names of those at Ninian Park, such as the Grandstand and the home stronghold of the Grange End. Ironically though, the Grange End seems to be the family area whereas the fans in the Canton seemed slightly ‘earthier’ and stood for the entire game!

The atmosphere in this top versus bottom clash threatened to burst into life when Cardiff scored early on, but the effort was ruled out. Peterborough took heart from this and went ahead with a well-taken free-kick. They took this lead into the second half after Cardiff had laboured without managing to create many chances. I had expected the home side to set about Peterborough after the interval but inexplicably the visitors made it 2-0 early via a clever counter attack.

The rest of the game saw the pendulum swing between Cardiff putting pressure on their visitors before Posh broke up the field. Cardiff got a goal back late on but it was Peterborough that took the spoils from what had looked like a home banker. Whilst the atmosphere was disappointing, the facilities were quite good and the food and beer on offer were excellent. All of the outlets had proper queuing systems in place and there were separate beer areas from which fans can even buy tokens in advance to save having to wait longer to purchase their favourite tipple.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

I made the simple walk back to the station as soon as the final whistle sounded and was surrounded by lots of disappointed Cardiff fans, although a throng of supporters didn’t let it get to them for too long, beginning a chant of ‘We hate Jacks', 'We hate Jacks’ (directed at rivals Swansea) five minutes after leaving the stadium. I arrived back at the station after going via an off licence to grab a couple of cans in hand to numb the pain of a long journey home back to Lincoln.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

It was great – a tour around the Millennium Stadium and another one of ‘the 92’ ticked off my list, I went home a very happy boy. Cardiff’s new home is surely a more relaxed day out than the daunting Ninian Park, but I would exercise caution when going to support your side just in case you are rumbled by some of the ‘undesirable minority’. Cardiff is a great city, with fantastic nightlife and some amazing architecture, so if I go again I think I will make sure I make a weekend of it.

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I had not been away to Cardiff before, either Ninian Park or the new ground, so it was an opportunity to visit a stadium I hadn’t been to before.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We drove down the M50 to the M4 and as recommended came off at J33 to the ground. The journey was very simple, well signposted and traffic was light, although we did arrive over and hour before kick off so that may have been a factor. We drove towards Cardiff and after finding no suitable parking near the Millennium Stadium we came back across the river and parked on Cathedral Road for free as it was a Sunday, but there did seem to be side roads which you could park on.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We went for a drink in the Westgate pub which was quite quiet but a nice friendly chain pub. I had a pint of Brain’s bitter which was excellent and there was sport on the TV. It should be noted I was not wearing colours so I don’t know the policy but I wouldn’t have thought it was a problem. The food looked decent but we decided to have a pie in the ground. It was then a 20 minute walk to the stadium.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The ground looks good but nothing of note as a lot of new stadiums look very similar, although I can see the similarities with the Madejski it seemed a bit more open and didn’t create a particularly intimidating atmosphere. It is strange that with Cardiff’s new Malaysian owners that everything is decked out in blue but they play in red. The away end was simple to get to if you remember to look for HSS Hire. The away fans were tucked in corner and the stewards advised it was sit anywhere you want as it was only three quarters full.

We grabbed something to eat before the game, they were out of chicken curry so I had the mince and potato pie which was very good. My girlfriend is veggie, so generally she’s a pain when I take her to the football (standard fare is a cheese pie) but Cardiff had a veg hotpot as their option. This was pretty poor, not very hot, too much onion and a slightly funny aftertaste. The concourse is a bit sparse and doesn’t look quite finished and there are no TV screens. If you want food or drink it’s worth walking to right hand kiosk as the queue is significantly smaller. The gents toilets are ok, my missus reported the ladies were very nice.

The game itself started very brightly both teams playing at a high tempo, Wolves scored through a free kick but Cardiff were awarded a penalty moments later and took the lead before the break. The second half was pretty dire, Cardiff protected their two goal advantage once Whittingham completed his hat trick with a free kick and Wolves never really threatened.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We left during injury time and walked back to the car and a Cardiff fan chatted to me about our prospects as he overheard me reporting how dire we were to my Dad on the phone. When we got to the car we drove down the Cardiff Bay and had something to eat there which was great and then travelled back via the Severn Bridge this time, there wasn’t much difference time wise I was just a bit sick of the roadworks on the M50/A449.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Overall a better day than I was expecting as there has been some trouble between both sets of fans in recent years but I found everyone we met very accommodating. I would call the ground functional rather than spectacular but the travel links are good and it’s another ground ticked off the list.

Cardiff City v Reading
Championship League Play Off Semi Final 2nd Leg
Tuesday, May 17th 2011, 7.45pm
James Clyde (Reading fan)

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

Reading were playing in the play-offs and I was looking forward to the match. I went with my Dad, who was also looking forward to it. Reading had drawn, 0-0, with Cardiff in the first leg. I went hopeful of a win, which would take the Royals to Wembley.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Finding the ground was quite easy, as it’s right next to the old Ninian Park. The journey was uneventful; the traffic was ok up until the Newport area – when the M4 goes down to two lanes and there was huge tail backs. The trip took just over two hours. There is an away car park just outside of the away corner; however it’s not well sign posted. This meant we went into the main car park instead (where we had been directed by the stewards). In front of us was another Reading fan, who had also gone to the wrong car park.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We went straight into the ground. The home fans seemed okay though and there were no problems.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The ground is like most of the modern British league stadiums. It has also been compared to Reading’s stadium; the Madjeski. The away corner had a surprisingly good view. There were two or three exits/entrances for away fans making access to the seats and concourse quick.

There was great atmosphere from both side leading up to the game. The stewards were friendly and the facilities were good.

In the game, it didn’t take long for the first chance of the game, only a minute gone when Shane Long hit the side netting for the Royals. Cardiff had the next chance, but it was fired straight at a Reading player. It bounced back out to another Cardiff player, but again it was blocked. Cardiff had a great chance to take the lead; Jay Bothroyd had a shot deflected wide from twenty yards out. Then the moment that changed the game, a Griffin throw that was flicked on by Cummings, then controlled by Long, but was fired away by a Cardiff midfielder, towards his own net. It hit his own McNaughton in the back and both he and Shane Long chased after the bouncing ball. The Cardiff goalkeeper rushed out and fired the ball straight at Long, about twenty-five yards out. Long flicked the ball forward and the ball ended in bouncing perfectly into the Cardiff net. A huge delayed cheer from the Reading fans at the other end of the ground followed. The Berkshire club was leading the game one-nil. Cardiff then could have had a penalty, the cross came in from the right and a Cardiff player was pushed in the back by Mikele Leigertwood. It wasn’t given, though. With one minute to go before half-time, Reading won a corner on the right. Jobi McAnuff played the ball in, bounced a yard away from captain Matt Mills, who was being tugged back by a Cardiff player. The referee gave a penalty. However, from the Reading’s fans view it was hard to tell if a penalty was given or not. An initial cheer was then stopped for a moment or so, before everyone in the Reading end realised that a penalty had been given. Shane Long stepped up – while I hopped that Ian Harte had stepped up, because of his better record with penalties throughout the season. Long sent the keeper the wrong way and the Royals were two up in Cardiff. The referee then blew his whistle for half time.

In the second half, Cardiff missed a great chance to get a goal back, but the Cardiff’s Emmanuel-Thomas fired is shot across Adam Federici’s goal. Reading had a chance to go three up; Jobi McAnuff ran from the centre circle and reached the semi-circle on the edge of the Cardiff box, passed the ball left to Long, who crossed in towards the on rushing Noel Hunt. Hunt could only head the ball on to the post, as the ball skidded on the surface – picking up pace – before reaching Hunt. Cardiff, again, had a chance to get a goal back. Emmanuel-Thomas played the ball down in the ground and the ball bounced up and over the Reading goal. Federici could have been sent off after getting to a ball outside of his penalty area, before the Cardiff striker and Reading defenders. Cardiff fans claimed that it was handled by the Australian. Reading’s Long crossed the ball to fellow Irishman Noel Hunt, who fired across the face of the Cardiff goal from 10 yards. Then the game was over, A Griffin throw in to Leigertwood, followed by a pass to McAnuff – who was about thirty-five yards out at the time – ran towards the box. Twisting passed two Cardiff players before reaching the box, being tackled by one of them – with the referee playing an advantage – keeping his footing and firing into the Cardiff net. The Cardiff fans started to leave the stadium. Loads of people surged down the aisle next to me towards the pitch – they were stopped from getting on to the pitch by stewards and the police. The players celebrated in front of the Reading fans. Also, the Cardiff fans had “happy clappers” which ended up being used as missiles. These were thrown at players, officials, police and the Reading fans. The game was stopped for a few minutes, because of this.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

We didn’t get away from the ground for about half an hour, partly due to celebrating with the players – however the players couldn’t stay out for long, due to some Cardiff fans getting on to the pitch – and partly due to the away fans being locked the away car park area for about half an hour after the match.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

It was a great day out. The Royals had a trip to Wembley and a great three-nil win against Cardiff. It was one of the best atmospheres I’ve heard watching Reading. It’s a nice stadium and has good facilities and a good away car park, but nothing special.